News and views about the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 and other legislation, schemes and policies impacting the Right to Education of India's Children.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Madhya Pradesh tops list of child labourers in country

A recent study conducted by the National Commission for Protection of
Child Rights (NCPCR) has revealed that Madhya Pradesh tops the list of
highest number of child labourers in the country. The appalling figures
point out that the highest number of child labourers engaged in Beedi
industry, are from MP.
"We conducted study in different parts of the country and found out
that out of all states with Beedi industries, Madhya Pradesh has highest
number of child labourers engaged in the trade," claimed NCPCR senior
technical expert Mohandas Godson. Madhya Pradesh has Beedi making units
in Sagar, Damoh, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Chhatarpur, Indore and other
places.
The study conducted by Godson and NCPCR member Dr Yogesh Dubey
claims that 18.3% of the total Beedi workers (4.3 million) are in MP
which attributes to highest number of child labourers in state followed
by others including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha & Andhra Pradesh.
On the flipside, labour department officials claimed that the number of Beedi industries has significantly shrunk in the state.
"Beedi production in the state has been significantly discouraged
and the number of units has also reduced," said state labour department
deputy commissioner RG Pandey. Officials, however, refused to comment on
the status of child labour engaged in Beedi industry in the state.
Contradicting the claim of labour department, Godson said that since it
is highly difficult to map children engaged in Beedi making which is a
home industry and clubbing fact with the highest registered Beedi
workers in MP, the labour department's claim is not substantial. NCPCR
has forwarded its recommendation to state government.
"We have recommended that a drive should be conducted under Sarva
Shikhsa Abhiyaan for bringing them to schools as school dropouts are
most vulnerable to child labour," Dr Dube said.